I thought I'd give everyone a sneak peek at the gun that will be raffled this year at Dixons gunmakers fair. The first thing I'll mention is this gun is particularly special since it is the last barrel that will have Mel Hartranft's special touch on it. Mel and his brother Paul have been hand rifling the barrel for the next years gun for many years. Mel unexpectedly passed away last year and has found his way to the happy hunting grounds that we will all find eventually. His smile and friendly nature will surely he missed by all who knew him.
The handrifled barrel is a .45 caliber and was swamped afterwards, making this a very light and well balanced rifle.
A handful of us from the Lancaster Muzzleloading Rifle Association agreed to build the 2019 rifle. I won't mention names (except I am one of them) since I'm not sure if they would want that but the progression goes like this:
1st guy inletted the barrel, lock and single trigger.
2nd guy took Ted Cash pipes and filed them up to look authentic.
3rd guy inletted buttplate and nosecap and has done about 99% of the shaping and will stain and finish the wood.
4th guy inletted the pipes and tailpipe, hand made and inletted the sideplate and filed up and inletted the trigger gaurd.
5th guy will be browning the barrel, trigger, trigger plate and lock.
Greg Dixon will be engraving our club name on the top of the barrel.
In addition to the barrel and rifling, all the parts and labor are donated. I'm not sure of all the donors but I do know the wood was provided by Wayne Dunlap.
The rifle is geographically diverse having traits of both Lancaster and Reading influence. Tickets are limited and cost $1 each. The pictures were taken when I had it and was doing my thing. If you are going to Dixons this coming July for the fair, you will want to get some tickets for this baby.
